Homemade Clementine Soda

 I am a sucker for homemade soda. My favorite for winter time? When you can't eat another cutie, and they are getting slightly shriveled? Clementine! (or mandarin really what is the difference?). Making soda syrup is really easy, and requires almost no attention. Keep it in the fridge, get a bottle or can of club soda and you are ready to go. My favorite thing about homemade soda is that I can adjust the sweetness to my liking, and I can add cream! Italian soda remix! And I don't have to drink a whole can, which is a skill I lost somewhere around 15 years old.

Macerate the oranges by smashing them in 1 cup sugar. This will help pull out the juice, and make it so you don't have to simmer the syrup as long. Then add enough water to barely cover the oranges, a few orange peels and simmer it away.

I like to add vanilla and cream to my sodas. They really are so bright and refreshing--which is often exactly what winter meals need. Enjoy

Clementine Soda Syrup

1 lb clementines
1 cup sugar
1 pinch salt
1 lemon
water

1. Peel clementines and slice in half against the segments (so it is easier to get juice out)
2. In a medium sauce pan combine sugar, salt, clementines, and few torn up peels. Smash with a wooden spoon until oranges give up their juice.
3. Add enough water to barely cover oranges (1-2 cups)
4. Simmer over medium-low heat till liquid clears and becomes thick and syrupy 10-20 minutes. Stirring and smashing the orange segments occasionally.
5. Test the consistency by dipping a cold spoon in the syrup. As it cools it should come to the consistency of maple syrup. If it is too thick, add more water.
6. Take off heat, let cool then strain out orange remains.
7. Add the juice of one lemon, stir.
8. Serve with club soda, to taste.
9. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.